Rochester Man Charged With Striking Pedestrian in Crosswalk

Rochester, MN (KROC AM News) - A Rochester man has been charged with striking a pedestrian with his car and then driving away.

The incident happened near St Francis Church in January.

Police reports indicate a man and his daughter were in a crosswalk at the intersection of 4th St and 11th Ave SE when an SUV nearly hit them while the driver was making a turn. The man was struck by the passenger side mirror of the SUV. Police say that’s when the man driving the SUV yelled at the pedestrian and gave him the finger. The pedestrian says he was trying to take a photograph of the SUV when the driver bumped into him, nearly knocking him to the street. The pedestrian says the driver hit him a third time and he landed on the hood before falling to the ground.

The SUV then drove away.

The driver - identified as 66-year-old John Wright of Rochester - was later located. He told an investigator he was not aware he had struck the pedestrian. Wright said he thought the pedestrian had hit his vehicle.

He is facing two counts of criminal vehicular operation and one count each of careless driving and disorderly conduct. He has been ordered to make his first court appearance next month.